大扶胥冲车三十六辆，以螳螂武士乘于车上，可用它纵横冲击，击败强敌。轻快的车骑也叫电车，兵法称它为电击。它可用以攻破坚阵，击败故人乘夜来袭的步骑。矛戟扶胥轻车一百六十辆。每车乘螳螂武士三人，兵法称这种为霆击，可用它攻破坚阵，击败敌人的步骑。
大方头铁棒也叫天掊，重十二斤，柄长五尺以上，共一千二百把。长柄斧也叫天钺，刃长八寸，重八斤，柄长五尺以上，共一千二百把。方头铁锤也叫天槌，重八斤，柄长五尺以上，共一千二百把。可用以击败敌人的步、骑兵。飞钩，长八寸，钩尖长四寸，柄长六尺以上，共一十二百枚。它可用以投到敌方钓取敌人。
军队防守时，应使用”木螳螂剑刃扶胥”每具宽两丈，共一百二十具，也叫行马。在平坦的地形上步兵可用它阻止敌人的车。骑的行动。设置木蒺藜，要高于地面二尺五寸，兵一百二十具。可用它阻止敌人的步、骑，拦阻势穷力竭的敌人和截断逃跑的敌人。轴旋短冲矛戟战车共一百二十辆，黄帝曾用以打败蚩尤。可用它击败敌人的步、骑，拦阻势穷力竭的敌人和截断逃跑的敌人。
在隘路、小道，可以布设铁蒺藜。铁蒺藜刺长四寸，宽八寸，每具长六尺以上，共一千二百具，可用它拦阻敌人的步兵和骑兵。敌人在能见度很低的时候宽突然前来挑战，白刃相接，这时应张设地罗，布置两镞蒺藜和参连织女，各具的芒尖相距二寸，共一万二千具。在旷野深草地区作战，配备方胸鋋矛，共一千二百把。设置鋋矛的方法，是使它高出地面一尺五寸。以上这些，都可用以阻止敌人的步、骑、拦阻势穷力竭和敌人和截断逃跑中的敌人。
在隘路，小道和低洼的地形上，可张设铁锁链，共一百二十具。它可用以阻止敌人的步骑，拦阻势穷力竭的敌人和截断逃跑的敌人。守卫管门用矛、戟、小橹各十二具，并附有绞车连弩。
军队驻守时应设天罗虎，落锁连，每部宽一丈五尺，高八尺，共一百二十具。虎落剑刃扶香，每具宽一丈五尺，高八尺，共五百二十具。
为渡沟堑装备的飞桥，每间宽一丈五尺，长两丈以上，飞桥上装有转关轳辘，共八具，使用铁环和长绳架设。渡江河使用浮桥，浮桥用宽一丈五足、长二丈以上的桥板八段拼成，用铁环长绳联结起来。天浮和铁螳螂内成圆形，外径四尺以上，两者用铁环绳索联接，共三十二套。浮桥板就架在天浮上，渡大水，这就叫天潢，也叫天船。军队在山林地扎营，应用木材结成栅寨，必须准备长二丈以上的铁链一十二百条；带铁环的粗大绳索，铁环大四寸，绳长四丈以上，共六百条；带铁环的中等绳索，铁环大二寸，绳长四丈以上，共三百条；小号绳索长二丈以上，共一万二十条。天下雨时，辎重车要盖上车顶板，还要盖上用麻编结而成的篷布，篷布宽四尺，长四丈以上，每车一具，用小铁桩固定在车顶上。砍伐树木使用大斧，重个斤，柄长三尺以上，共三百把；大锄，刃宽六寸，柄长五尺以上，共三百把；”铜筑因为全”，长五尺以上共三百把：“鹰爪齐胸铁耙”，柄长七尺以上，共三百把；齐胸铁又柄长七尺以上，共三百把；齐胸两枝铁叉，柄长七足以上，共三百把。除草木使用的大镰，柄长七尺以上。共三百把；大橹刃，重八斤，柄长六尺，共三百把；带环的铁板长三足以上，共三百个；铁鎯钟头重五斤，柄长二尺以上，共一百二十把。军队万人，需要强努六千张，戟和大盾两千套，矛和盾两千套，修理攻城器具和磨快兵器的能工巧匠三百人，以上是作战所需要的兵器器材的大略数目。
武王说。应当这样！
Chapter 4 - The Tiger Teaching
Three Formations
King Wu asked Jiāng Zǐyá: “In employing the army, there are the Heavenly Formation, the Earthly Formation and the Human Formation. What are these?”
Jiāng Zǐyá replied: “When you accord your formation to celestial objects like the sun and moon, the stars, the planets and the handle of the Big Dipper - one on the left, one on the right, one in front and one to the rear - this is referred to as the Heavenly Formation.
“When you accord your formations to the hills and mounds, rivers and streams, giving you advantage at the front, rear, left and right, this is referred to as the Earthly Formation.
“When you create your formation according to the type of chariots and horses and the strategies you are using, this is referred to as the Human Formation.”
“Excellent!” said King Wu.
武王问太公说：用兵时有所谓天阵、地阵、人阵，是什么意思？
太公说：“根据日月星辰斗杓等天象位置来布阵，就叫天阵。利用立陵水泽等地形为依托来布阵，就叫地阵。根据所使用的兵种和战法来布阵，就叫人阵。
武王说：好啊！
Fast Battles
King Wu asked Jiāng Zǐyá: “If the enemy surrounds us, severing both our advance and retreat, breaking off our supply lines, what should we do?”
Jiāng Zǐyá replied: “These are the most distressed troops in the world! If you employ them explosively, you will be victorious; if you are slow to employ them, you will be defeated. In this situation, deploy your troops into ‘Four Martial Assault Formation’. Use your military chariots and valiant cavalry to assault and startle their army, and attack them with haste. Then you can thrust across them.”
King Wu asked: “After we have broken out of the encirclement, if we want to take advantage of it to gain victory, what should we do?”
Jiāng Zǐyá said: “The Left Army should assault to the left and the Right Army should assault to the right. But do not get entangled in protracted fighting with the enemy over any one road. The Central Army should alternately attack from the front and attack the rear. Even though the enemy is more numerous, their general can be driven off.”
武王问太公说：如果敌人包围了我军，遮断交通，断绝粮道，应该怎么办？
太公说：这是处境最困难的军队。在这种情况下，急速突围就能胜利，拖延时日就要失败。突围的队形要把军队结成”四武冲阵”，使用强大的战车和骁勇的骑兵，打击和震骇敌军，疾速突击，这样就可以横行无阻地突围了。
武王说：如果我军已突出重围以后，还想乘势击败敌军，对此怎么办？
太公说：以左军迅速向左攻击，右军迅速向右攻击，不要和敌人争夺道路，以免分散兵力，同时以中军轮翻突击，或击敌前或抄敌后。敌军虽多，也能打败。
Certain Escape
King Wu asked Jiāng Zǐyá: “Suppose we have led our troops deep into the territory of the feudal lords where the enemy unites from all quarters and surrounds us, cutting off our road back home and severing our supply lines. The enemy is numerous and extremely well-provisioned, and gained the terrain advantage. We want to get out - how can we?”
Jiāng Zǐyá said: “In the matter of staging a certain escape, your equipment is the key, while courageous fighting is of foremost importance. If you investigate and learn what parts of the enemy’s fortifications are weakly defended, and the places where there are no men, you can then stage a certain escape.
“Order your generals and officers to carry the black pennants and take up the implements of war. Require the soldiers to put wooden gags into their mouths. Then move out at night. Men of courage, strength and swiftness, who will risk extreme danger, should occupy the front, to level the enemy’s fortifications and open a passage for the army. Skilled soldiers and strong crossbowmen should compose an ambushing force which will remain in the rear. Your weak soldiers, chariots and cavalry should occupy the middle. When deployment is complete, slowly advance, being very cautious not to startle or frighten the enemy. Have the Large Charging Chariots group defend the front and rear, and the Large Flank Great Chariots protect the left
and right flanks.
“If the enemy should be startled, have your courageous, strong risk-takers fervently attack and advance. The weaker troops, chariots and cavalry should bring up the rear. Your skilled soldiers and strong crossbowmen should conceal themselves in ambush. If you determine that the enemy is in pursuit, the men lying in ambush should swiftly attack their rear. Make your fires and drums numerous to confuse the enemy, and attack as if coming out of the very ground or dropping from Heaven above. If the army fights courageously, no one will be able to withstand us!”
King Wu said: “In front of us lies a large body of water, or broad moat, or deep water hole which we want to cross. However, we do not have equipment, such as boats and oars. The enemy has fortifications and ramparts which limit our army’s advance and block off our retreat. Patrols are constantly watchful; passes are fully defended. Their chariots and cavalry press us in front; their fighters attack us from the rear. What should we do?”
Jiāng Zǐyá said: “Large bodies of water, broad moats and deep water holes are usually not defended by the enemy. If they are able to defend them, their troops will certainly be few. In such situations, you should use the Flying River with winches and also Heaven’s Huang to cross the army over. Our courageous, strong and skilled soldiers should move where we indicate, rushing into the enemy, breaking up his formations, all fighting to the death.
“First of all, burn the supply wagons and provision, and clearly inform the men that those who fight courageously will live, while cowards will die. After they have broken out and crossed the bridges, order the rear elements to set a great conflagration visible from afar. The troops moving forth must take advantage of the cover afforded by grass, trees, hillocks and ravines, ready to spring an ambush.
The enemy’s chariots and cavalry will certainly not dare to pursue them too far. Using the flames as a marker, the first to go out should be ordered to proceed as far as the flame and then stop to re-form into ‘Four Martial Assault Formation’. In this way, the army will be fervent and sharp and fight courageously, and no one will be able to withstand us.”
“Excellent!” said King Wu.
武王问太公说：领兵深入敌国境内，敌人从四面合围我军，切断我军退路，断绝我军粮道。敌军既众，粮食又多，占领了险阻地形，守备坚固，我想突围而出，应该怎么办？
太公说：突出敌人包围的方法，兵器器材最为重要，而首先必须奋勇战斗。查明敌人兵力薄弱的地方，以及无人防守的处所，乘虚而击，就可以突出包围。突围的部署，将士们都拿着黑旗，持着器械，口中衔枚，乘夜行动。使勇敢有力、行动轻捷、敢于冒险犯难的将士在前面，攻占某些敌人营垒，为我军打开通路，让有技能而勇敢的武士使用强努，隐伏在后面掩护，老弱士卒和车骑在中间行进。部署完毕后，沉着行动，谨慎从事，不可惊慌，使用武冲大战车在前后护卫，用武翼大橹矛戟 战车在左右掩护。
如果敌人发觉我军突围行动，我先头部队就迅速向前突击，老弱士卒和车时限在后面，材士使用强努隐蔽地埋伏起来。当敌来追我时，我伏兵就迅速攻击它的后尾，并多用火光、鼓声乱敌耳目，使其感到我军好象是从地而出，从天而降，全军奋勇战斗，敌人就不能阻截我军的突围了。
武王说：假如面前遇到大河、宽沟、深坑，我军要想渡过，而没有准备船只，敌人屯兵筑垒，阻止我军前进，堵塞我军归路，其斥候又戒备很严，险要地形都在敌人手中，敌人的战车、骑兵又在前面拦阻，勇士又在后面袭击，对此怎么办？
太公说：凡是大河、宽沟、深坑，敌人一般是不设防的，即使防守，兵力也必定很少。这样，就可以用浮桥、折叠桥和船只渡过我军，以勇力材士按照指定方向，冲锋陷阵，拼死战斗。先焚烧我的辎重，烧掉我的粮食，再明确告诉将士，勇斗的就有生路，怯战的就是死亡。已经脱出危险的就令我军后卫部队设置烟火信号，派出远方斥候，占领丛林、坟基和险阻的地形，准备阻击敌人。这样，敌人的战车骑兵必然不敢长驱远追了。其所以用火作为信号，是令先突围的到达有火的地方，就编成”四武冲阵”。这样，我三军将士都精锐而勇斗，敌人就无法阻止我军了。
武王说：好啊！
Planning for the Army
King Wu asked Jiāng Zǐyá: “Suppose we have led the army deep into the territory of the feudal lords, where we encounter deep streams or water in large valleys, ravines and defiles. Our army has not yet fully forded them when Heaven lets loose a torrent, resulting in a sudden flood surge. The rear cannot maintain contact with the front portion. We don’t have equipment to cross the river and the supply has been cut off. I want to finish crossing, to keep the army from becoming bogged down. What should I do?”
Jiāng Zǐyá said: “If the leader of the army and commander of the masses does not first establish his plans, the proper equipment will not be prepared. If his instructions are not precise and trusted, the officers and men will not be trained. Under such conditions, they cannot comprise a conqueror’s army.
“In general, when the army is involved in a major campaign, everyone should be trained to use the equipment. For attacking a city wall or surrounding a town, there are armored assault chariots, overlook carts, and battering rams, while for seeing inside the walls, there are the ‘cloud ladders’ and ‘flying towers’. If the advance of the army is stopped, then there are Large Charging Chariots, for defending both front and rear. For severing roads and blocking streets, there are the skilled soldiers and strong crossbowmen controlling the two flanks. If you are encamping or building fortifications, there are the Heaven’s Net, the Martial Drop, the chevaux-de-frise, and the caltrops.
“In the daytime, climb the cloud ladder and look off into the distance. Set up five colored pennants and flags. At night, set out 10,000 fire-cloud torches, beat the thunder drums, strike the war drums and bells, and blow the sharp sounding whistles.
“For crossing over moats and ditches, there are the Flying Bridges with mounted winches and cogs. For crossing large bodies of water, there are boats called Heaven’s Huang and Flying River. For going against the waves and up current, there are the rafts and the rope pulled River Severance. When the equipment to be used by the army is fully prepared, what worries will the commander-in-chief have?”
武王问太公说：领兵深入敌国境内，遇到深溪大谷和难以通过的河流，我军还没有渡完、忽然天降暴雨，流水大涨，后面的军队被水隔断，既没有船只。又没有水草、粮食的供给，在这种情况下，我想完全渡过去，使三军不至停留过久，应该怎么办？
太公说：大凡率领军队行动，如果计划不预先制定，器械不预作准备，平时训练不周到，士卒动作不熟练，这就不能算是王者的军队了。凡军队在有军事行动的时候，没有不熟练使用各种器械的。如攻城围邑，就用”轒辒”、临车”、”冲车”；观察城内就用”云梯”、”飞搂”；三军进止，就用”武冲”、”大稽”在前后掩护；断绝交通，遮断街道，就用材士强弩，控制两侧；设置营垒就用”天罗”、”武落”、”行马”、”羡慕”；白天就登上云梯瞭望远方，并设立五色旌旗；夜晚就设置烟火，升击”雷级”，敲小鼓，摇大铃，吹胡品，用为指挥信号；越沟壕，就用”飞桥”、”转关”、”辘轳”“锄铻”；渡大河，就用”天渍”、”飞江”；逆流而行，就用”浮海”、”绝江”。如果军队应用的器材都具备了，主将还忧虑什么呢?
Approaching the Border
King Wu asked Jiāng Zǐyá: “Both the enemy and our army have reached the border where we are in a standoff. They can approach, and we can also advance. Both deployments are solid and stable; neither side dares to move first. We want to go forth and attack them, but they can also come forward as well. What should we do?”
Jiāng Zǐyá said
: “Divide the army into sections. Have our advance troops deepen the moats and increase the height of the ramparts, but none of the soldiers should go forth. Array the flags and pennants, beat the leather war drums, and complete all the defensive measures. Order our rear army to stockpile supplies and foodstuffs without causing the enemy to know our intentions. Then send forth our elite troops to secretly launch a sudden attack at their rear, striking where they do not expect it, attacking where they are not prepared. Since the enemy does not know our real situation, they will not advance.”
King Wu asked: “Suppose the enemy knows our real situation and has fathomed our plans. If we move, they will be able to know what we are up to. Thus they send forth their elite troops, concealed in the deep grass, to ambush us on the narrow roads. What should we do?”
Jiāng Zǐyá replied: “Each day, the vanguard should go forth and instigate skirmishes with them, in order to psychologically wear them out. Have our older and weaker soldiers to drag brushwood to stir up the dust, beat the drums and shout, and move back and forth - some going to the left, some to the right, never getting closer than 100 paces from the enemy, to create an illusion that we have a large army. Their general will certainly become mentally fatigued, and their troops will become fearful. In this situation, the enemy will not dare come forward. Then our advancing troops will sometime continue forward to attack their interior, other times their exterior. With our army all fervently engaging in battle, the enemy shall certainly be defeated.”
Military Strategy Classics of Ancient China Page 10
